Summary
Alternative Name(s): Lettergram. Aerogram
Letter from the Australian Imperial Force to Mrs Annie Kemp relating to the return of personal effects from her husband, Private Albert Kemp, a World War I soldier killed in action on 21 September 1917.
The letter explains that the parcel of personal effects she received (on 22 May 1918) was supposed to have been sent to another bereaved woman, Mrs C. Kemp of Wonthaggi, who had been in turn sent Annie Kemp's parcel. Each was asked to return the parcel. No apology was made for what must have been a heart-rending mistake, made at the A.I.F. Headquarters in London.
Annie eventually received the proper parcel nearly a year later, on 25 May 1919. It contained photographs, postcards, a rosary and a 'religious book' (according to his service record held at the National Archives).
A copy of the letter (probably a carbon copy) is held at the National Archives (barcode 7368872).
Physical Description
Single sheet of paper, typed and stamped. Printed letterhead; hand-written signature. Address typed on reverse; printed return address. Postal stamp visible. Edges of letter ragged from being torn open, particularly at top left and lower right.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase from Mr Jeff Kemp, 07 Dec 2006
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Maker
Base Records Office, Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 07 Jun 1918
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Person Named
Private Albert E. Kemp - 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF)
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Addressed To
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Inscriptions
Typed text: AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE/BASE RECORDS OFFICE/VICTORIA BARRACKS/MELBOURNE 7th June, 1918./Dear Madam, 8274/I have to acknowledge receipt of your/letter of the 30th ultimo and should be obliged if/you would return to this Office the parcel which/was forwarded to you, purporting to contain the/personal effects of your son, the late No. 6800 Private/A.K. Kemp, 6th Battalion./An error was made at A.I.F. Headquarters,/London, in addressing these parcels, the consequences/being that yours was forwarded to Mrs. C. Kemp/Wonthaggi (late of Heathcote) and vice versa. Mrs./Kemp has been asked to return the parcel which was/forwarded to her, and when same is to hand it will be/promptly transmitted to you.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
18 cm (Width), 21.9 cm (Height)
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Dimensions
170 mm (Length), 217 mm (Width)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Keywords
Death & Mourning, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918, Making History - Kemp Mourning Collection
